Gospel Partnership by Dan Jackson

            Well, I guess this is farewell…. kind of.  By the time you read this I will no longer be the Director of Family Ministries at New Hope Church.  God has called my wife and I to plant another reformed Church in Green Bay, which will be named Jacob’s Well.  To be honest, Tricia and I are very excited and humbled to be used by God in this endeavor.  I realize not everyone shares our enthusiasm but regardless of our feelings and opinions, there is still a special relationship that exists between those at New Hope and those going to plant Jacob’s Well.  Paul puts it this way,  Philippians 1(3)  “I thank my God every time I remember you.  (4)  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  (5)  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

            According to Paul, if both churches are partakers and promoters of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then we are partners.  You can think of it as business partners, which don’t compete against each other, but rather work for the benefit of the same company and under the leadership of the same boss.  New Hope and Jacob’s Well are both working for the same Kingdom and under the leadership of the same King.    

            Paul continues this thought by writing, Philippians 1 “(7)  It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.  (8)  God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

            Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians from far away Rome, where he had gone to plant another church.  In these verses, Paul has uncovered the uncomfortable consequence of extending the Kingdom of God, which is the changing nature of church family relationships.  For the sake of God and the lost, Paul had to leave the Philippian church that he loved so that he could focus his efforts on the people who had not yet heard the good news of Jesus Christ. 

            Probably the hardest part of planting this church, for Tricia and I, is that we deeply love New Hope Church.  You have been our family since we moved to Green Bay and God can testify how we truly long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 

            While it is true that the nature of our relationship must change for the sake of the Gospel (as we refocus our time and efforts), we want you to know that the people of New Hope will always remain in our heart.  Thank you for your prayers, your support and your partnership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.